6 Fixes if Windows 11 Is Not Recognizing USB Devices

Quick Solutions

• Cleaning the USB port or trying a different one can prevent further troubleshooting.
• A quick system restart is also effective when minor glitches trigger the problem.
• Updating the computer and scanning for viruses are potential fixes for this problem.

Fix 1: Unlock and Trust the Device

Some devices, like iPhones or Androids, have an added layer of authentication to verify user identity. When you connect your phone for the first time to a computer, you need to unlock it; otherwise, the computer may not recognize it.

Step 1: Connect the phone to a USB.

Step 2: On an iOS device, tap the Trust option in the Trust This Computer pop-up.

Alternatively, if it’s an Android phone, drag down the notification area > tap Charging connected device via USB > select Transferring files.

Fix 2: Check BIOS to See if USB Is Recognized

This fix is important because if the USB device is detected in the BIOS, the other solutions below may fix the issue. If it is not detected, there is a higher chance of hardware malfunction, so you may want to check cables or the device itself. You must first enter BIOS, then use the arrow keys to navigate to USB. Steps will vary depending on the manufacturer.

You may identify a recognized USB if the device is under the Listed Devices, and you should ensure a USB Controller Status, if available, is enabled.

Fix 3: Reinstall USB Drivers

Buggy USB drivers on your Windows 11 PC can cause problems recognizing USB devices. To fix this, uninstall the USB drivers from the Device Manager menu. Follow the steps below.

Step 1: Right-click on the Start menu and select Device Manager.

Step 2: When it opens, scroll down to the Universal Serial Bus Controllers section > locate and right-click on the USB Root Hub device.

Step 3: Select Uninstall Drivers and confirm your choice.

Step 4: Restart your PC and wait for Windows 11 to automatically install the required drivers after plugging in the USB device.

Fix 4: Update or Reinstall Chipset Drivers

Chipset drivers act as translators behind the scenes. They ensure that the PC’s motherboard communicates effectively with connected components. Updating them can fix the USB problem. The steps will depend on your manufacturer, but for AMD chipset drivers, you may download them on the AMD driver website.

Step 1: First, click on the magnifying lens on the Taskbar, type system info, and click on System Information.

Step 2. Take note of your BaseBoard Product value.

Step 3: Open the AMD driver website, type the BaseBoard Product value in the search field, and click Enter.

Step 4: Note the Chipset name—in our case, it is AMD Socket A4—and click on it.

Step 5: Select Chipset > select the Chipset name for your computer > choose your BaseBaord value > click Submit.

Step 6: Choose your operating system and click on Download for your Chipset driver.

Step 7: Double-click to run the downloaded setup file and click Install.

Step 8: Restart the computer once the installation is completed.

Fix 5: Disable USB Suspend Settings

This is yet another setting tweak that can affect USB operations on Windows. To reduce battery usage, Windows 11 suspends USB operations after a while. Let’s change the behavior.

Step 1: Press the Windows key, type edit power plan, and hit Enter. Windows will open Power options in the Control Panel.

Step 2: Select Change advanced power settings.

Step 3: Scroll down to USB settings > select USB selective suspend setting > choose Disabled.

Step 4: Click Apply and OK.

Fix 6: Change Power Management Settings

By default, Windows 11 suspends the USB device operations in the background to save power, especially on laptops. You can disable the tweak from the Device Manager menu.

Step 1: Right-click the Start menu > open the Device Manager menu.

Step 2: Expand Universal Serial Bus controllers, find the USB device from the list, and right-click on it.

Step 3: Select Properties from the context menu.

Step 4: Go to the Power Management menu, disable Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power, and click OK.